Frank K. Root

Frank K. Root
Born
Frank Kimball Root

(1856-06-23)June 23, 1856
Jersey City, New Jersey
DiedFebruary 10, 1932(1932-02-10) (aged 75)
Kansas City, Missouri
Resting placeRosehill Cemetery
OccupationMusic publisher
Political partyRepublican

Frank Kimball Root (1856–1932) was a music publisher in Chicago and the proprietor of Frank K. Root & Co. His father, Ebenezer Towner Root, co-founded Root & Cady. Among the many notable songs published by the firm is "I Ain't Got Nobody".

Biography

Private Flynn by Lloyd Garrett cover

Frank Kimball Root was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on June 23, 1856. He moved to Chicago with his family at a young age and was educated in public schools in Hyde Park.[1]

He married Harriet Elizabeth Irwin on October 30, 1890, and they had three children.[1]

In politics, he was a Republican.[1]

Frank K. Root's firm had close ties to the McKinley Music Company.[2]

Root's home designed by Daniel Burnham

His home, the Root-Badger House at 326 Essex Rd. in Kenilworth, Illinois outside Chicago (also known as the Centennial House), was designed by Daniel Burnham and built by Paul Starrett.[3] It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (National Register of Historic Places listings in Cook County, Illinois).[4][5]

Frank K. Root died in Kansas City, Missouri on February 10, 1932, and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.[6][7]

Background

His father cofounded Root & Cady. It was hit by the Great Chicago fire of 1871 and bankrupted. It was reorganized several years later as The Root & Sons Music Company.

Songwriter George F. Root was his uncle.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XVII. James T. White & Company. 1920. p. 42. Retrieved December 31, 2020 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Jasen, David A.; Jones, Gordon Gene (2000). That American Rag: The Story of Ragtime from Coast to Coast. Schirmer Books. ISBN 9780028647432. frank k. root.
  3. ^ Rodkin, Dennis. "No Little Price Tag For Daniel Burnham-Designed Home". Chicago magazine. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "Kenilworth's Root-Badger House on the market for $8.95M". chicagonow.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  5. ^ "National Register Properties – Kenilworth Historical Society". kenilworthhistory.org. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Deaths—Continued". Kansas City Times. February 11, 1932. p. 16. Retrieved December 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Funeral To Be Held Tomorrow For F. K. Root". Chicago Tribune. February 14, 1932. p. 16. Retrieved December 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.